Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 The case described below is yet another example of why I recommend that the use of tranquilizer darts should be reserved for the very rare cases where no other capture method can be used. Some very large animals, including elephants and even cattle, quite often die from respiratory and circulation problems if they are off their feet for too long, even when the tranquilizer dose was just right. The potential risk to elephants has been widely known for at least 20 years, since a high-profile death at the Los Angeles Zoo when an elephant died after routine sedation for transport. ---- The Hindu Wednesday, January 07, 2009 Captured elephant dies of shock in Kodagu Jeevan Chinnappa GATTADALLA (KODAGU District): In a tragic accident, a wild tusker captured in the forests here in Kodagu district on Tuesday afternoon died of " shock " even as efforts by the Forest Department team to revive it failed. This was the fourth elephant captured in the Dubare Reserve Forests in the district since operations began on December 10 last. The elephant, estimated to be aged around 32 years, was darted with tranquilisers around 1.45 p.m. at Avaregunda, but the animal ran more than 3 km before falling. The Forest Department team, comprising Assistant Conservator of Forests, Shashidhar, Range Forest Officer M.S. Chinnappa, veterinarians Nagaraj and Srinivas and staff, went in hot pursuit of the animal. Just as the elephant was being roped in with the help of 'kumkis' (tamed elephants), the elephant died, Dr. Nagaraj told The Hindu. " The pachyderm died from shock, " said Conservator of Forests, Kodagu Circle, G.A. Sudarshan, who rushed to the spot. The dead elephant had injuries on its trunk, head, ears, and near the tail, which indicated that it had been involved in a fight with other wild tuskers. Dr. Srinivas and Dr. Nagaraj said that the injuries were at least one week old. One of the wounds had turned into an abscess. The elephant had also lost one of its nails on its hind legs. There were numerous gun shot marks on the body of the elephant. " It spoke of the fact that the elephant was a troublesome one and people had shot at it, " Nanda Subbaiah, a resident of Maldare, said. Mr. Sudarshan ruled out that the animal had died of an excess dose of 'immobilon', the tranquiliser that was used to dart the animal. The veterinarians said that the tranquiliser was not the reason for the death of the elephant. " We generally use 3.5 ml of immobilon to tranquilise the animal, " Dr. Srinivas said. 'The same dosage was used for darting the other three elephants caught in Kodagu forests since the operations began in December, " Dr. Nagaraj said. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) had granted permission to catch six troublesome elephants in Kodagu. Post mortem would be conducted and the carcass burnt, Mr. Sudarshan, who is overseeing the operations, said. --- -- Merritt Clifton Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE P.O. Box 960 Clinton, WA 98236 Telephone: 360-579-2505 Fax: 360-579-2575 E-mail: anmlpepl Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for free sample, send address.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Dual-mounted 50-calibre machine guns strapped over their backs, and a little training, that¹s all wild tuskers really need. Then we will see ³troublesome.² Jigs in Nepal On 1/8/09 3:04 AM, " Merritt Clifton " <anmlpepl wrote: > > > > The case described below is yet another example of why I > recommend that the use of tranquilizer darts should be reserved for > the very rare cases where no other capture method can be used. > > Some very large animals, including elephants and even > cattle, quite often die from respiratory and circulation problems if > they are off their feet for too long, even when the tranquilizer > dose was just right. The potential risk to elephants has been widely > known for at least 20 years, since a high-profile death at the Los > Angeles Zoo when an elephant died after routine sedation for > transport. > > ------------------------- > > The Hindu Wednesday, January 07, 2009 > > Captured elephant dies of shock in Kodagu > Jeevan Chinnappa > > GATTADALLA (KODAGU District): In a tragic accident, a wild tusker > captured in the forests here in Kodagu district on Tuesday afternoon > died of " shock " even as efforts by the Forest Department team to > revive it failed. This was the fourth elephant captured in the Dubare > Reserve Forests in the district since operations began on December 10 > last. > > The elephant, estimated to be aged around 32 years, was darted with > tranquilisers around 1.45 p.m. at Avaregunda, but the animal ran more > than 3 km before falling. The Forest Department team, comprising > Assistant Conservator of Forests, Shashidhar, Range Forest Officer > M.S. Chinnappa, veterinarians Nagaraj and Srinivas and staff, went in > hot pursuit of the animal. Just as the elephant was being roped in > with the help of 'kumkis' (tamed elephants), the elephant died, Dr. > Nagaraj told The Hindu. > > " The pachyderm died from shock, " said Conservator of Forests, Kodagu > Circle, G.A. Sudarshan, who rushed to the spot. The dead elephant had > injuries on its trunk, head, ears, and near the tail, which indicated > that it had been involved in a fight with other wild tuskers. Dr. > Srinivas and Dr. Nagaraj said that the injuries were at least one > week old. One of the wounds had turned into an abscess. The elephant > had also lost one of its nails on its hind legs. There were numerous > gun shot marks on the body of the elephant. " It spoke of the fact > that the elephant was a troublesome one and people had shot at it, " > Nanda Subbaiah, a resident of Maldare, said. > > Mr. Sudarshan ruled out that the animal had died of an excess dose of > 'immobilon', the tranquiliser that was used to dart the animal. The > veterinarians said that the tranquiliser was not the reason for the > death of the elephant. " We generally use 3.5 ml of immobilon to > tranquilise the animal, " Dr. Srinivas said. 'The same dosage was used > for darting the other three elephants caught in Kodagu forests since > the operations began in December, " Dr. Nagaraj said. The Principal > Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) had granted permission to > catch six troublesome elephants in Kodagu. Post mortem would be > conducted and the carcass burnt, Mr. Sudarshan, who is overseeing the > operations, said. > > --- -- Paul Reitman, CEO Phoenix Studios Nepal Mobile: 9841589797 www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.